The Butler weekly times., 1887-03-16

money ie.i!
lie opened his empty purse. By way
OF answer, and held it up before her.
But don't fret. darling" be cried.
cheerilv. Business is sure TO come in
before long"
Nevertheless. Coquette looked at him
with grieved. startled eyes
She had ALWAYS heard that artists
were an improvident race, but up to the
present time she had never believed It.
But. of course. now that he is mar
red and settled, he will take quite
different view of things" she pondered.
And have got six new dresses and
all the clothes shall need tor year.
at least
And when she wrote her first letter
home to the five sisters. she declared
over and over again, that she was per
fectly happy
| But as the time crept on, and the
six new gowns grew shabby. and the
tradespeople clamored for their bills,
and no gold-edged orders came in.
| Coquet,e's heart failed her. and even
Harry began to look unwontedly grave
And, as if to crown their troubles,
poor young Radcliffe fell i'll of a fever.
| and lies trials looked Co1uette grimly
| in the face.
But the girl was not one easily to be
| conquered. While she sat by Harry's
side. counting the hours between his
| draughts of medicine, she sewed dlli-
gently for dressmaker street or SO
| away.
When the good housekeeper came in
for fny fna Ir.y TO
give her chance to get little fresh
air. she took her work home. and
secured the neighborhood for a place
where she could buy grapes and pears.
| at something less than ruinous prices,
to tempt her husbands capricious appe-
tie.
And one evening. when she returned
with IN especially fine bunch Of Tokay
grapes, which She had bought at lar
gain. she found him tossing restlessly
to and fro on his pillow. with fresh
fever burning on his cheeks.
"A letter from Aunt rabitha, Co.
quette!' he cried. ..She is coming to
make us visit Now. of all times in
the world, when the butcher and the
baker are taking turns in besieging us,
and everything is at the loves, ebb."
| "But why not nov. Harry?'
Don't You know? Aunt Tabby is
the one rich relative I've gotr' cried the
young man, impatiently. "She always
declares she's going to leave her money
10 me, because I'm the only member of
the family ihat knows how to make
money aud save L. She's the most
mercenary old creature in the world.
and if she once sees what a pass we've
come to, she'll never have another word
10 say TO me.'
Coquette looked sorrowfully around
the studio. Everything that could by
any possibility be sold to raise little
money had been sent away. the floor
was carpetless. the walls were bare.
1T does look rather poverty-strlcken,"
she reluctantly admitted. ''But-oh,
Harry, when is she coming?"
''On Thursday-only the day after to-
morrow"
"Very WE'LL" said Coquette, with a
long breath. "we'll be ready for her"
But how can we. dearest?'
You shall sec." Coquettc answered.
with an arch nod of her head.
And then there ensued long coun-
Gil. whispered and intent
Jones will help u.s." said Harry.
"aud De Kaye, and Courtenay. And
Sprigging is the best fellow in the
worldr'
'.And Madam Plombreri and every
one of the sewins-girls will lend hand.
l am sure" said Coquette. ''Oh, Harry,
am so glad you are sufficiently recov-
cred for us to try this bold experiment.
All the next day pleasant confusion
reigned in the studio.
Sprigging. a marine painter of nc
mean pretensions luoged in q half.
finished picture of Moonlight on the
Grand canal at Venice" and establish
ed it on his friends easel; De Kaye
stood on step-ladders. at the risk of his
| life. to hang a number of his pretty lit
tie fruit and flower glimpses SO that the
tarra-cotta coiored walls should be
hidden; and Launcelot Courtenay him.
self aided in their arrangement; while
the housekeeper. assisted by two able
bodied men. brought in the upright
piano which belonged to Courtenay's
room. together with a pile of marble
| pedestais crowned by bronze statuettes
OF Mercury and Psyche.
Madam de PIombreri hung the win
dows with Turcoman draperles anC
contributed IA rich Persian rug; Miss
Peck. the forewoman. sent up a chins
cabinet. four gilt chairs and what
not; each of the sewing-ggirls contribut
ed pretty little articles of bric-a-brac.
| And in the midst Of this luxury Harry
Radcliffe lay Oh sofa, with his wife
{. beside him. when Aunt Tibitha was
shown in-a little shrivelled. sharp
eyed woman. with shaggy gray eye
brows. and a nose like the beak of ,
bird of prey.
Hey! humph! howr' was her greet
ing. Upon my word. Nephew Henry
didn't suppose you lived in style lik'
this. Been pretty successful. eh? Sorr,
to hear you We been sick. Done al
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